Jackson William

This has been a work in progress for a long time! It's so hard to believe that Jack is already 7 months old. He wants to eat whatever we have, stands against the couch and cruises in his walker. Sometimes I miss the little tiny baby but I'm so happy to see him growing into such a wonderful boy!

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Jackson talking!

Nana bought this ball for Jackson and yesterday he had lots of fun playing with it!

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We love our brother!

Alex and Emma love having a new baby brother and will routinely share their favorite toys with him! Most recently, Jackson had Tigger, Care Bear, star blankie and purple blankie on him. What a lucky boy!

Amnio

Note to self, when you're really nervous about having a big needle stuck in your stomach and you got sick from just brushing your teeth, it's really not a good idea to eat breakfast pizza as you drive downtown with your husband who drives, shall we say, aggressively!!

By the time I was laying flat on my back for the amnio, I was not feeling well! I thought I would pass out, get sick or both! They found the spot to insert the needle, and then Jackson moved right where they were working! So...they had to find another spot. I'm glad it's over!

We're inducing Friday morning. We have to be at the hospital by 6 am!!

Decisions...

So, last Monday (13th) I had an appointment with my doctor. First they did an ultra-sound and it was discovered that Jack is a big boy!! That was at 36 1/2 weeks. We had to see a nurse practioner because the doctor was running two hours late. The NP told us that since he was in the upper 10%, they make different decisions for inducing. We were told that we could induce at 37 weeks.

Well, we had an appointment yesterday with my doctor. Her first words were, "So, we think you should opt for the elective c-section at 39 weeks." What???? I don't want a c-section. The recovery with a 3 year old, 2 year old and newborn - I can't imagine! Obviously I would have a c-section of it was definitely necessary but what are our other options??

The doctor then told us that we could have an amnio Wednesday (tomorrow) to see if his lungs are mature. The risk with that is that if they do the amnio, it could rupture his amniotic sack. He would then be delivered whether his lungs were mature or not.

I started to cry because I didn't know what to do. We talked it over with her more and we decided to do the amnio. I'm really nervous and I hope that it all goes smoothly.

She checked and I was dialated to 3 cm so maybe he'll come on his own tonight!

Final details

I had an ultra-sound on Monday, April 13. Our "little guy" is already measuring 8lbs 9oz! I realize that ultra-sound isn't 100% accurate for size determination - but that also means he could be bigger! :) We have another appointment on Monday, April 20. Hopefuly at that time we can discuss inducing soon thereafter!

We are really excited to meet him. I can't wait to hold him and kiss him!

Tonight we are setting up the co.sleeper that we bought. Here is everything else that is ready for him.

Jack's crib.

His "going home" outfit. I found this on clearance for $6 for the outfit. I bought NB and 0-3 month. I wonder which he'll need...!



Here is his bag to take to the hospital. We bring Huggi@s because Alex was allergic to P@ampers which is what the hospital uses.

His carseat!

Little booties I just had to get for him. Yes, thank heaven for little boys!

Cute things I want to remember

At breakfast this morning...

Alex: Mommy where do drinks come from?

Mommy: Well, orange juice comes from oranges when they are squeezed. And milk...

A: I know where milk comes from. It comes from cows because they have white butts. I just don't know where pop comes from.


Emma while eating cookies.

Emma: If I want more I want more. (She has said this no less than three times so far while eating those pink and white frosted animal cookies. Alex says it when he eats something he likes. She's quite the sponge and does so many things like him!)

Self-portrait

Alex is really into drawing and coloring. He has told me that he wants paper with "no writing on it". I think it's so neat that he wants to be creative! That is a trait he gets from his Daddy!!

Yesterday he asked me what he should draw for me. I told him a flower, his name and himself. He delivered! I love him so much!

Emma's room

I have loved decorating Emma's room! I know from experience, that teenagers definitely have their own opinion for their room and so I'm enjoying it while I can!

Getting ready for Jackson!

We are ready for Jackson! I have his hospital bag packed, a list for Joe and myself, the crib set up with his new bedding, his dresser organized, the bouncy seat out and the changing table stocked!

Now we just need the baby!

Alex tells me everyday that he will show Jackson how to play with cars and trucks. Emma reassures me that she will help me with Jackson's diapers and singing him, "Rock-a-bye, Baby". I have their "Big Brother" and "Big Sister" shirts purchased, I just need to wash them.

We have the lettters "JACK" on wall. Joe and I have been talking, and we're not decided if we want to call him Jack or Jackson. We may be adding three more letters to the wall!

Here are some pictures of our boys' room. Joe loves saying, "my boys"!

Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas! My mom was here and we absolutely love having her visit!

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Christmas Eve 2008 continued

After leaving Judy and Dick's house, we ate chili for dinner. This has become our "tradition" since it's easy, can sit on the stove awhile and everyone likes it!

The kids put on their Christmas pj's and then prepared plates for Santa and his reindeer.

"I'm waiting, Daddy!"

"Me, too, Daddy!"




Reindeer like carrots but Santa likes cookies!




Cookies for Santa!




Carrots for his reindeer!

Hugs...

We move our tree Christmas Eve so that we can sit in the living room and open gifts. Normally it sits in our dining room.

Christmas Eve 2008

Well, it's better late than ever!

We had a great Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, we went to my Aunt and Uncle's house. Alex and Emma loved to see Jorden and Ella! Desi (in true teenager mode) chose instead to go to a movie with a couple of friends! :)

Emma in her darling Christmas outfit. I love having a girl!

Alex and Jorden hugging!

Emma and Ella checking each other out.

Emma keeping an eye on the boys!




My grandma and Aunt Judy - matching aprons!

Aunt Cheri and Emma smiling big!

"The Price of Children"

My husband, Joe, sent me this today. It's so sweet and so true!

(I haven't updated my blog in a long time because the security on our computer makes it take forever to upload pictures. I talked to Joe and he's going to try and fix it for me!)

The Price of Children

Here's something absolutely positive for a change.

I have seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice. The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle-income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,

* $741.38 a month,

* $171.08 a week.

* A mere $24.24 a day!

* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is; don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140.00?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.

* Giggles under the covers every night.

* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

* A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,

* carve pumpkins,

* play hide-and-seek,

* catch lightning bugs,

* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,

* watch Saturday morning cartoons,

* go to Disney movies, and

* wish on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

* taking the training wheels off a bike,

* removing a splinter,

* filling a wading pool,

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and

* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:

* First step,

* First word,

* First bra,

* First date,

* First time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love and enjoy your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren! It's the best investment you'll ever make!

Time out

Emma got in trouble the other night. She looked so pitiful that we had to take a picture! She sure knows how to pout those lips!

Girls will be girls!

The other day Alex and Emma were coloring at the kitchen table. I was busy doing other things and when I came over to see how they were doing, I noticed that Emma had taken all of the pink and purple shades of crayons for herself!